Air Conditioning Services Sunshine Coast

Air Conditioning Services Sunshine Coast

Although we live on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Caloundra with summer breeze and ocean spray, let’s face it, it gets hot! Many businesses, shops and homes on the Sunshine Coast use air conditioning during Spring and Summer and during peak electricity times (between 4pm and 8pm) to help cool us all down. Running the air conditioning 24/7 can become costly, so below are some tips on how to reduce electricity bills and details regarding what rewards are on offer for air conditioning installation.

How to reduce my electricity bill from air conditioning?

Using power costs lots of dollars these days. And often we just don’t realise that we can save on our electricity bill by just changing our usage a little or being a bit smarter regarding our choice of appliance and maintenance of air conditioning units.

In terms of when to use an air conditioner, well that usually happens when you are hot or wanting to go to bed and sleep! Because the peak time for electricity is between 4pm and 8pm, try and avoid having the air conditioning on full blast at that time if possible. Be mindful of your temperature settings. Energex advises that every degree of extra cooling may increase your electricity consumption by 5-10% approx. This is quite a lot. So set your air conditioning temperature at a level that will provide comfort for everyone and won’t freeze the rest of your family in the process. An energy efficient temperature is 24 degrees in summer and 18 degrees in winter. You can increase your efficiency, and thereby reduce your electricity consumption, by closing doors, sealing windows, having adequate insulation or curtains in your living rooms. All of these little things add up.

When purchasing an Air Conditioner and engaging an air conditioning installer, make sure you choose an energy efficient make and model and seek advice on the units placement.

You can also purchase a PeakSmart air conditioner as recommended by Energex. A PeakSmart air conditioner assists in reducing peak demand (when you pay the most on your electricity bill) by dropping your air conditioner into a lower performance mode when the electricity network is under stress. Although in Queensland the network only comes into stress once or twice a year (as advised by Energex), the idea of the technology is to “set and forget”, so you don’t have to change your air conditioners’ settings or temperature. And you’re unlikely to notice a difference in your temperature comfort level. The below video from Energex explains it best.

To maintain an air conditioner is not difficult, but does require awareness on your part to complete tasks at regular intervals. We recommend following the cleaning and care instructions as issued by your air conditioner manufacturer. This usually involves regularily cleaning the filter and removing any dust and grime that may build up around the air conditioning unit.

Dust particles, in particular, can reduce air flow by around 1% in just one week! Equally important to air flow is removing any obstructions, leaves or debris from the outdoor air conditioning unit. This “box” is usually sitting outside the room window and can easily get dirty. A quick spray with the hose from time to time or wipe down of the surface will greatly enhance efficiency. If at all possible, ensure that the outdoor unit is shaded from full sun. 5-10% of the units efficiency can be lost if the unit is not properly located on your property.

If you happen to take a good look at your current air conditioner, and decide that it may not be as efficient as it should be, then it’s time to give us a call to chat about your air conditioning service options. Again, the initial outlay may hurt your wallet (unexpected costs always do), but the long term savings will outway an inefficient energy user like an air conditioner.